They're paying for the feed and we're consuming for free. Can't really complain. Taylor has looked alright so far. Clearly the fastest and although they've gone after him he's created a few chances.

I hadn't noticed that Bamber and OHD had only got one wicket between them, which infers we haven't controlled much in the bowling PP. That Lintott, Taz Ali and Yates are top three in the average with some pretty high averages, tells you not much control in the middle overs as well. Looking at those figures now only makes it clearer that Lintott in for Wylie was a bowling choice and one that was worth sacrificing Wylie's promise with the bat. Re-enforcing the bowling makes the batting weaker, though this was papered over exceptionally by Garton and Bamber in this Notts game. Basically weaknesses all round and one weakness is affecting other disciplines. Having said that, I still think we have seen some good displays in this competition and we might not be that far away. Even if this is now echoing the Blast campaign.

I watched about a dozen balls towards the end of the innings. Still couldn't really see how the pitch was playing but I did see Garton hit a six, his third, then collapse on the floor, not sure with what but could have been his back. Was moving about a bit awkwardly afterwards. Might just have been cramp I suppose. As others have said, with his first pro century maybe not used to batting for so long. Fair play to both him and Bamber.

Took a look at the feed. A bit hard to see what's going on but looks like quite hard work out there...

Is it Welbeck Colliery?

Evocative - but not really in a bucolic way. Sort of Sean Bean evocative. Guardian wrote about giant Pylons there.

Andy wrote:

It looks a nightmare and, frankly, a bit of a dump to be honest.

I think this is an important take. Indeed, there were some good parts to yesterday and remember Northants have just won a white ball trophy - not a bad team. As someone said, a batsman going on for another 30 runs on the board (350!!) or even as little as three overs of strangle bowling it could have been different. Not bad seeing as that was a fresh introduction of a few players.

Highveld wrote:

even though the result wasn't the win we wanted, there were some significant positives from the game.

A very good debut from Theo Wylie, and Jake Garlic showed he was worth the chance.

A good innings from Sam Hain, and contributions from almost everyone else.

There is a lot to be positive about.

That's interesting re Kerrigan's take. (What's his role? Is he one of our coaches?) I just had the spider sense Garton was having his contract run down ahead of release, this seems like they're actively trying to give him more involvement than you'd expect as standard. With Simmons, I really wanted him to come into the side as (like Garton) he's a point of difference bowler. Whether through injuries or whether he just hasn't kicked on, it's hard to see him having a future here if he sits the 2026 ODC out as well as 2025. I think seamers will be rotated and Gilchrist comes into the side - if he's fit - for latter games, just wonder if that applies to G&S.

Very tight this, they're almost exactly mirroring our innings. What doesn't re-assure is we still need to fiddle some overs out of someone here and it seems like they have taken a liking to Yates and, for one over, to Jani... Wonder how Wylie's ticker is!

Seemed as soon as anyone tried to accelerate, they got out. I've only watched about 5 overs in two little spells but the pitch looked OK, wonder if it was just a little harder to bat on than expected or at least it required some graft and application. Could yet be a good score.

I didn't see it but good work Theo to overcome that nervy start. I think that's the right position, having said that though, not sure he's a player who comes in and scores with tempo straight away, whereas Kai, Garton and Davies probably can later in the innings. Best to give him a bit of time to settle.

I think I mentioned it (or if I didn't I thought it) that we're an all rounder short this season so extrapolate from this that if Garton can bowl he plays and if not it's Wylie. Can't see Garlick playing unless another injury.

Seems they are romping to victory here and it's mainly Jani that's doing it, back to back centuries with some good scores on other recent games as well (ie 2XI T20). I'd say that inks him in as Rob Yates opening partner for the first MB game and Malik will be in there somewhere. Was intrigued to see Davies keeping but paired alongside Kai in the batting order and Davies has scored more runs (though not yet a lot of runs). Might not be determined that Kai keeps in the competition and I have always seen Davies playing in this. Given he hasn't bowled and yet batted, I think that's Garton out now, at least for the first few games. My take was Gilchrist was defo in for this competition hence not playing now, OHD also but the seam bowlers will probably rotate and from the looks of it not including Booth or Simmons, which I think is a bit of a shame as that's all the sharper bowlers out now. One I genuinely don't know about is Theo Wylie. A week ago I would say he was in but having not played in these last two games you kind of assume not now.

I've been thinking something like this. I would have had Garton up top but I don't think he can bowl, so I think he has to miss out. If he could he would be straight swap for Barnard in my fantasy selection, who frequently didn't bowl all ten overs last year (ie we only need 4-5 from Garton). Given fireworks yesterday I would say Jani but it is so tight with Malik could be either. Don't think they could rotate game by game but both should have a role. I think the seamers will definitely rotate and, as you say Andy, happy to see an academy seamer get a few games as well:

Yates
TBD, but development player
Hamza
Davies
Hain
Smith (w)
Wylie
Booth / OHD
Simmons / Gilchrist
Taz
TBD, but development seamer

Haven't picked a captain as really not sure. Davies included without gloves. I don't know how the other counties are but it does seem like we have quite a lot of potential first team players in the seconds and this works well for us in this competition.

My take on this game was it was possibles rather than probables for ODC, the team last week was in my mind the key audition for the probables. What is worth pointing out that a few weeks ago we eulogised Yorkshire for having academy products, they had an arguably stronger team and we still won by a load. Again we already know, but it seemed we did rely on the experienced bowlers in the field, but some good contributions with the bat.

Looked at Kai's contributions this camapign. Averaging 37 but only two catches. Probably the nature of the game. Hope that sets him up nicely for the metro bank. Shame couldn't get more out of Hamza and Jani (though couldn't fault that latter's strike rate). From what I saw a very odd game though seemed both teams were over it. Still some results to come in but looks like our group was the strongest

Did the feed stop working for anyone else? All of the second innings? Probably worth a break, it was a frustrating game!

Enjoyed watching the chase. Feel a bit bad saying Barnard should be switched out seeing him bat there as he clearly shouldn't play the next game injured. Think Mouse got just a bit lucky with that last over, if Neesham had kept it down he would have closed the over out but quality he was able to take advantage of it, two opportunistic balls, hit them both for six. There's skill in that.

I didn't watch us in the field - but seems it was a case of slow bowling wins it, for our innings too. I presume Webster's over was seam up?

Yeah captaincy makes it unlikely (I think it's unlikely full stop) but Barnard has been pretty much a passenger the last few games and he'll be out of the county set up for a month. I'd like to Garton play though, we're literally getting nothing for whatever we're paying him and he can play multiple roles. Be fascinated to see how close he is to bowling.

I know what you mean re Kai. Also seems he suffers from timing. It seems at #7 with the batters ahead of him he always seems due in with about 6-10 balls left and he gets subbed out for one of the sloggers beneath him. Really needs 4 - 5 overs to get the most out of him.

ITE7376 wrote:

Tayls79 wrote:
Re our chat on Garton on the 2XI feed yesterday, might we worth subbing him in for Barnard on Sunday and see if he can open and maybe bowl a few overs with a view to the Metro Bank.

yeah I'd think about this too albeit as EB is captain i think unlikely. on his poor batting form in isolation he'd very much be a candidate to be dropped. there's not the same groundswell of calls for that on here compared to how it is with some other players, curious, is that.

It's difficult to work out - but I think it's one of those ones where it's mathematically possible but extremely unlikely. In any scenario though, should just play our strongest team for this match, then it presumably becomes certain we can't progress in the next match, tweak a selection. Re our chat on Garton on the 2XI feed yesterday, might we worth subbing him in for Barnard on Sunday and see if he can open and maybe bowl a few overs with a view to the Metro Bank.

Didn't realise he did that role with Sussex. He's in the 90s with s/r of 200 at the moment, if this is a trial game for places in the MB there's a decision to be made. If they could somehow conjure 4/5 overs out of him with the new ball it might be an adequate Barnard replacement, though if he didn't bowl in this game I guess no-one is confident.

Andy wrote:

If he can be fit enough to bowl, he may well play, no Barnard in the ODC this year remember...